Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

G O Littlejohn

Publications and source records attributed to G O Littlejohn.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1986

The painful swollen calf. A comparative evaluation of four investigative techniques.

Complications of popliteal cysts may closely mimic the clinical features of a deep venous thrombosis. We assessed the sensitivity and specificity of the non-invasive procedures of radionuclide venography and popliteal space ultrasound examination compared with those of contrast venography and arthrography, respectively, and then prospectively studied 23 non-surgical patients with acutely painful, swollen calves to determine the utility of these techniques. The cause of this symptom was popliteal cyst complications in 10 patients, deep venous thrombosis in seven patients, and both conditions in two patients. Radionuclide venography was highly reliable and ultrasound examination was specific but only moderately sensitive in these studies. The painful, swollen calf may be investigated adequately in most cases by means of noninvasive invasive techniques; contrast venography and arthrography should be reserved for only a minority of patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Hepatic reactions to nifedipine.

Two cases in which abnormal liver function tests were associated with the use of nifedipine are reported. In both cases, liver function returned to normal after withdrawal of the drug. Evidence suggests that the toxic effect of nifedipine on the liver is due to hypersensitivity.

Aged↗
PubMed1985

Insulin and new bone formation in diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis.

The tendency of patients with DISH towards obesity or an adult onset of diabetes has been reflected in marked hyperinsulinaemia following glucose challenge. It is hypothesized that insulin at prolonged and high physiologic levels promotes new bone growth, particularly in the entheseal regions. These areas are also subject to various mechanical forces. The resulting new bone produces the radiological changes which characterise DISH.

Acromegaly↗
PubMed1985

Wegener's granulomatosis: clinical features and outcome in seventeen patients.

Seventeen patients with Wegener's granulomatosis are reviewed. Eleven males and six females, with a mean age of 46.9 +/- 4.5 years, were followed for 35.7 +/- 9.0 months. Mean duration from time of onset of symptoms to diagnosis was 8.5 +/- 3.1 months. Constitutional symptoms (100%), lower respiratory tract involvement (93%), renal involvement (87%), and upper respiratory tract involvement (80%) were the most frequent clinical manifestations. Arthritis (60%), dermal vasculitis (60%), and inflammatory ocular disease (40%) were also common. Elevated ESR (94%), anemia (70%), and lymphopenia (77%) were frequent laboratory findings prior to treatment. Five patients had renal failure at presentation and two patients progressed from no renal involvement at presentation to renal failure at diagnosis, while five patients progressed from renal involvement without impairment at diagnosis to end-stage renal failure. Seven patients died; six of these deaths were related to active Wegener's granulomatosis. The patients with a severe systemic vasculitis, and renal involvement had a poor outcome while predominant respiratory disease had a good prognosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Popliteal cysts and deep venous thrombosis: Tc-99m red blood cell venography.

Thirty-four patients who clinically were suspected of having deep venous thrombosis (DVT) underwent Tc-99m red blood cell (RBC) venography followed by contrast venography. The sensitivity (88%) and specificity (94%) of Tc-99m RBC venography for DVT confirmed findings of previous studies. Twenty-four patients who had proved popliteal cysts and swollen calves also were examined using Tc-99m RBC venography. Large cysts (greater than 9 X 4 X 4 cm) showed lack of DVT features, photon deficient cold areas in the popliteal fossa, and diversion of venous flow around the photon deficient area. These features were seen in 25% of the study population (six patients), and assisted in the distinction between the two conditions.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

Clinical comparison of cultured human epithelial cells and rat liver as substrates for the fluorescent antinuclear antibody test.

Fluorescent antinuclear antibody (ANA) testing was performed on 141 sera from 114 patients with well defined rheumatic diseases including fibrositis syndrome and 24 sera from 24 healthy subjects using HEp-2 cells and rat liver as substrates. ANA titers were almost always higher on HEp-2, in most cases by 1:5 dilutions. ANA positivity or negativity was usually substrate independent, but there were exceptions. Two patients with SLE were ANA positive on HEp-2 only and rat liver only, respectively; patterns were homogeneous. Thirteen of 15 CREST patients had anticentromere antibodies, detected on HEp-2 only. "False-positive" ANA were invariably low titer, speckled and confined to one substrate.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Assessment of esophageal abnormalities in progressive systemic sclerosis using radionuclide transit.

Radionuclide transit (RT) is a noninvasive test of esophageal function with a sensitivity equivalent to manometry. Using RT, 34 patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS), 15 with diffuse scleroderma and 18 with the CRST variant, were studied and compared to 22 patients with other connective tissue diseases and 20 normal volunteers. Abnormalities were present in 87% of patients with diffuse scleroderma, 72% with CRST, 38% with other connective tissue diseases and in none of the controls. The most frequent abnormality in PSS was that of adynamic transit. Abnormalities correlated with disease duration in the diffuse scleroderma group but not the CRST group. There was a positive association between abnormal RT and the presence of esophagitis in the PSS patients (p = 0.003).

Adolescent↗
PubMed1984

Psoriatic arthritis and myasthenia gravis.

A B27 positive woman, with a past history of myasthenia gravis and thymectomy, was found to have psoriatic arthritis. The implications of this association are briefly discussed.

Arthritis↗
PubMed1984

Fish Fancier's Finger.

Infection of the flexor tendon sheath and proximal interphalangeal joint by Mycobacterium marinum is described. The characteristic features of this unusual infection are delineated.

Adult↗
PubMed1982

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis and new bone formation in male gouty subjects. A radiologic study.

Ninety-nine males with gout were identified and their radiographs examined for features of vertebral hyperostosis and entheseal changes (diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, DISH). Of patients over the age of 45 years 43% fulfilled criteria for diagnosis of DISH. New bone formation in other regions of the skeleton was also common. The overhanging margin sign, seen in well developed tophi, was noted only in patients with prominent new bone formation elsewhere in their skeleton. Some of the radiologic manifestations of gout may be modified by a co-existent tendency, in these patients, to form new bone. It is suggested that a common metabolic factor, possibly hyperinsulinaemia, underlies the association of gout and hyperostosis.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1982

Adult onset Still's disease: a cause of pyrexia of unknown origin.

A case of adult onset Still's disease is reported. A middle aged woman presented with prolonged high fever, rash, polyarthritis, leukocytosis and abnormal liver function tests. The clinical features and multisystem nature of this condition are emphasised.

Arthritis, Juvenile↗
PubMed1981

Central retinal vein occlusion and scleroderma: implications for sclerodermatous vascular disease.

A patient with scleroderma (progressive systemic sclerosis) who developed central retinal vein occlusion is described. The aetiology of this condition is discussed and the role of possible sclerodermatous vascular disease is highlighted. It is suggested that studies of fundal vasculature could be useful in the clinical assessment of sclerodermatous vascular disease.

Constriction, Pathologic↗